Dietary simultaneous replacement of fish meal and fish oil with blends of plant proteins and vegetable oils in yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) fry: Growth,digestive enzymes,antioxidant status and skin mucosal immunity

A 56‐day nutritional research was performed to examine the influence of alternative vegetal protein and lipid sources on performance of yellowfin seabream fry (Acanthopagrus latus) (0.5 ± 0.0 g). In this regard, five isoproteic (Ca. 500 g/kg) and isolipidic (Ca. 150 g/kg) diets were formulated in which fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) were simultaneously replaced with blends of plant proteins (PP, soybean meal and corn gluten) and vegetal oils (VO, canola and soybean oils) at 20% (SR20), 40% (SR40), 60% (SR40) and 80% (SR80) levels, respectively; meanwhile, a control diet (SR0) was formulated based on FM and FO. Growth and feed utilization were not influenced by experimental diets. The fatty acid profile of fillet drastically altered by dietary treatments. Fish fed with the SR60 and SR80 feeds had higher total protease, trypsin and α‐amylase activities than other treatments. The antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione content in liver were enhanced in fish fed with the SR40, SR60 and SR80 diets. Skin mucosal immune parameters including total protein content, alkaline phosphatase and alternative complement pathway activities in the control group were relatively lower than the vegetal treatments. According to these results, it is recommended that 410 g/kg of FM and 45 g of FO/kg can be replaced with alternative vegetal sources in diet for A. latus fry.     

Thermal,swelling and stability kinetics of chitosan based semi-interpenetrating network hydrogels

The present study is focused on studying the swelling kinetics, thermal and aqueous stabilities, and determination of various forms of water in the chitosan (CS) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) blend and semi-interpenetrating polymer network (sIPN). CS/PAN blend hydrogel films were prepared by solution casting technique. The blend film with optimum swelling properties was selected for the synthesis of sIPN. CS in the blend was crosslinked with the vapors of Glutaraldehyde (GTA) to prepare sIPN. The fabricated CS/PAN blend and sIPN hydrogels films were characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). The kinetics of swelling, bound and unbound waters and aqueous stability were determined experimentally. FESEM showed good miscibility between CS and PAN, FTIR showed no chemical interaction between CS and PAN; however, it did show a doublet for the sIPN, TGA showed improved thermal stability and swelling kinetic followed second order kinetics. The degree of swelling of the sIPN hydrogels samples at room temperature varied from ~2200 % (with a fair degree of stability (~30 %)) to ~1000 % (with high degree of aqueous stability (43 %)) with increase in the crosslinking time. The calculated unbound water (W_UB) max., for the blend was 52.3 % whereas for the bound (W_B) the max., was 41.9 %. However, for sIPN hydrogel films, the W_UB water decreased (max. 21.0 %) where as the W_B increased (max. 52.0 %). The decrease in W_UB and increase in the W_B is attributed to the formation of a compact structure and increase in the contact area between the water and polymers in sIPN hydrogels due to the induction of new water contacting point in these hydrogel films, respectively.     

播期和密度对棉花叶柄和根系硝态氮含量的影响

为探讨大田棉花氮代谢随播期和密度的变化规律,选用华棉3109(G.hirsutum L.)于2014年在华中农业大学试验农场,采用裂区设计:播期(月-日)(S1,05-30;S2,06-14)为主区,密度(株·m-2)(D1,7.5;D2,9.0;D3,10.5)为副区,研究了硝态氮含量在主茎叶柄和根系的分布特点。结果表明:1)随生育进程推进,叶柄和根系硝态氮含量先升高后降低,初花期最高。2)主茎叶柄硝态氮含量随叶位变化,蕾期、初花期由上而下逐渐降低,第1叶最高;盛花期逐渐增高,第1叶和第4叶最高;不同生育时期棉花叶柄硝态氮含量在叶位间的下降幅度随播期推迟而降低,随密度增加先升高后降低。3)播期和密度对不同生育时期棉花叶柄和根系硝态氮平均含量的交互作用均显著,但播期和密度主效应影响不同:见花施肥前,随推迟播期,棉花叶柄硝态氮平均含量显著降低了42.9%,根系硝态氮平均含量显著升高了12.1%,增加密度对叶柄和根系硝态氮平均含量无显著影响。见花施肥后,随播期的推迟,叶柄硝态氮平均含量无显著性变化,初花期平均为5.05 mg·g-1,盛花期平均为2.62 mg·g-1;而根系硝态氮平均含量,初花期S1S2,盛花期S1S2;随密度增加,D1,D2与D3初花期叶柄和根系硝态氮平均含量均显著降低;盛花期叶柄硝态氮平均含量呈先升高后降低趋势变化,而根系硝态氮平均含量则与初花期相反,呈显著递增趋势。综上所述,晚播高密条件下,见花一次施肥后,推迟播期不改变棉花地上部叶柄硝态氮平均含量水平,适度增加密度有利于棉花叶柄维持较高的硝态氮含量,有利于为叶片氮代谢提供充足的底物。     

Salinity tolerance of earthworms and effects of salinity and vermi amendments on growth of Sorghum bicolor

Salinity is a major factor limiting irrigated agriculture in arid regions. Vermi amendments can be used for improving the fertility of salt-affected soils. Current study was aimed to find out the response of different earthworm species to soil salinity and to check the effects of salinity and different vermi amendments on growth of Sorghum bicolor under salt stress. Eight earthworm species were subjected to different salinity levels for 4 weeks. Various vermi amendments and salinity treatments were provided in a factorial combination to S. bicolor plants to see their effect on growth and biomass parameters. L. mauritii, E. incommodus and P. posthuma were found to be the most salt-tolerant species showing good survival and growth till soil EC_e value of 10.48 mS cm^?1. Results showed that salinity significantly decreased plant growth that was enhanced by the application of different vermi amendments. Maximum growth of S. bicolor was recorded when vermicompost and vermiwash were used together under both saline and non-saline conditions. The results showed that the application of vermi amendments improved nutritional balance of the soil, delayed salt-induced damage to the plants and supported their growth so can be helpful in increasing crop production on saline soils.     

Challenges in organic component selection and biochar as an opportunity in potting substrates: a review

Plant production in potting substrates provides maximum profit on the applied inputs, and hence, directly improving the socio-economic condition of the grower/nurserymen. The main challenge in this industry is sourcing of materials for their potting substrates. Peat and perlite have been widely preferred materials. However, recently higher prices, more restrictive legislation of many countries and wetland ecosystem destruction through its extraction has limited peat use. Nowadays, producers focus towards peat alternatives that provide good performance, are readily available, inexpensive and environment friendly to attain sustainability in potted plant production. In an effort to grasp sustainability during the last few decades, many industrial and agricultural waste materials were reviewed for their use in potting substrates. In these studies, the major focus remained on material characterization, neglecting their economics, technical aspects and environmental impacts. Thus, switching from peat and perlite to alternatives requires material exploration. In the present review, we summarize a clearer and practical approach for substituting different materials especially biochar to fulfill the need of modern potting substrate industry. Biochar has the potential to sustain the substrate production on a long-term basis.     

Use of diatomaceous earth for the management of stored-product pests

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is almost pure amorphous silicon dioxide, made up of fossilised diatoms; it acts as an insecticide by absorption of epicuticular lipids and fatty acids, leading to desiccation in arthropods. Numerous DE formulations have been attempted for the management of stored-product pests with good results. DE is persistent in its action, poses few or no pest resistance problems, and it leaves no residue. The efficacy of DE is affected by factors such as: its provenance, temperature, humidity and characteristics of target pests and substrate. Application of DE at currently recommended doses causes changes in bulk density of the grain; however, the use of enhanced DE formulations provides control at much lower doses. Therefore, new formulations of DEs usually include other low toxicity insecticides.     

Evaluation of Three Chitin Metal Silicate Co-Precipitates as a Potential Multifunctional Single Excipient in Tablet Formulations

The performance of the novel chitin metal silicate (CMS) co-precipitates as a single multifunctional excipient in tablet formulation using direct compression and wet granulation methods is evaluated. The neutral, acidic, and basic drugs Spironolactone (SPL), ibuprofen (IBU) and metronidazole (MET), respectively, were used as model drugs. Commercial Aldactone^®, Fleximex^® and Dumazole^® tablets containing SPL, IBU and MET, respectively, and tablets made using Avicel^® 200, were used in the study for comparison purposes. Tablets of acceptable crushing strength (>40 N) were obtained using CMS. The friability values for all tablets were well below the maximum 1% USP tolerance limit. CMS produced superdisintegrating tablets (disintegration time < 1 min) with the three model drugs. Regarding the dissolution rate, the sequence was as follow: CMS > Fleximex^® > Avicel^® 200, CMS > Avicel^® 200 > Dumazole^® and Aldactone^® > Avicel^® 200 > CMS for IBU, MET and SPL, respectively. Compressional properties of formulations were analyzed using density measurements and the compression Kawakita equation as assessment parameters. On the basis of DSC results, CMS co precipitates were found to be compatible with the tested drugs. Conclusively, the CMS co-precipitates have the potential to be used as filler, binder, and superdisintegrant, all-in-one, in the design of tablets by the direct compression as well as wet granulation methods.     

Cryptocaryon irritans recombinant proteins as potential antigens for sero‐surveillance of cryptocaryonosis

Cryptocaryonosis is a major problem for mariculture, and the absence of suitable sero‐surveillance tools for the detection of cryptocaryonosis makes it difficult to screen Cryptocaryon irritans‐infected fish, particularly asymptomatic fish. In this study, we proposed a serum‐based assay using selected C. irritans proteins to screen infected and asymptomatic fish. Eight highly expressed genes were chosen from an earlier study on C. irritans expressed sequence tags and ciliate glutamine codons were converted to universal glutamine codons. The chemically synthesized C. irritans genes were then expressed in an Escherichia coli expression host under optimized conditions. Five C. irritans proteins were successfully expressed in E. coli and purified by affinity chromatography. These proteins were used as antigens in an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to screen sera from experimentally immunized fish and naturally infected fish. Sera from both categories of fish reacted equally well with the expressed C. irritans recombinant proteins as well as with sonicated theronts. This study demonstrated the utility of producing ciliate recombinant proteins in a heterologous expression host. An ELISA was successfully developed to diagnose infected and asymptomatic fish using the recombinant proteins as antigens.     

Genetic diversity of Syrian pistachio (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia vera</Emphasis> L.) varieties evaluated by AFLP markers

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a strategic nut tree species in the Middle East which holds comparative advantage over other fruit trees in view of its hardiness, income generation opportunities and benefits for the ecosystem. Yet pistachio cultivation depends on a very narrow genetic base, in spite of the existence of many varieties still marginally exploited. Syria is an important center of diversity for pistachio. A country wide ecogeographic survey in this country was carried out to determine the extent of pistachio genetic diversity and its use. As a whole, 114 accessions were collected from 37 farms to assess diversity at morphological and molecular level. Molecular evaluation was carried out using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique and performed using seven primer pair combinations. Results from the studies allowed the identification of 25 pistachio female varieties in Syria, some of which unique and described for the first time. Three groups of pistachio diversity were identified by cluster analysis which provides useful information about the distribution of genetic diversity in Syria for enhanced use and sustainable conservation.